The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1887-03-17

CHAPTER Xviii CONTINUED
Then two days after, | observed
that DIR. Barron was evidently in a
perturbed state Of mind. He ate
little, or nothing; ne looked unshav-
en-, untidy, and unhappy.
Something unusual was evidently
disturbing the serenity OF the care
less, somewhat cynical, but gentle
manlike department of this man,
and / at once remembered his pro-
posed visit to The sick Frances, who
had once been faithful and conf
dental servant in his own family,
but [ could not understand why he
should be so "upset" by anything
that she might have said to him,
unless he had been made aware OF
my knowledge Of his completely in
defrauding the child of his first
wife, and even this, I should not
have supposed, would have affected
him to the degree of making him
unhappy, though it might have
yexed him somewhat.
After Luia's lessons were over, l
paid a short visit to Winnie's room.
Pauline had gone out, leaving the
door unlocked, SO receiving no answer
to my knock, [ opened the door and
went in. The poor girl was looking
more fragile than l had yet seen her,
but was quiet, and gave me a look
of unmistakable welcome and intel
ligence. [ felt sure now that when
once the weight upon her heart was
removed, the brain would also re-
cover its tone, and she would be
restored to reason and to health. [
kissed her, and she put her poor,
emaciated little arm around my neck
and returned the kiss. When Pau
line returned after about ten minutes,
| kissed her once more, and telling
her that L would "come soon AGAR"
lat which / observed look of in
solent defiance on Pauline's face [
left the room, and heard the key
promptly turned in the lock, and a
grunt from her savage "keeper-"
In the afternoon, / called Lula to
take our usual walk, and we started
off, but on passing through the gate
we were joined by DIR. Barron, who
held by string pretty little brown
terrier puppy. Giving the string to
Lula, he said,
"Here is the pet I promised you
Lula, see if you can make him run
as fast as you car"
The delighted child gladly obeyed,
thanking him warmly for the gift,
and running on in front of us, as he
took her place at my side. He
opened the conversation at once by
saying, II am about to leave this
cursed place Miss Rembert, and I
wish to say something to you before
I go. I hare seen Frances, and she
has made a horrible revelation to me,
sohich she says she has also told to
you.''
I made no reply, but gave him my
full attention. He went on
"When l agreed to my wife's
suggestion to use Winnie's money in
a speculation, I was sure of success,
and believed that L could soon restore
it, to the very last cent. It was
about fifty thousand dollars, and the
speculation was failure. Winnie
was about to marry Philip Sterling,
whowas rich, and I knew she would
not miss her own fortune, but ]
knew also, that he could if he chose
make me account for the money, as
L was her guardian and trustee, and
Z had never told her of her loss.
Sterling failed to come at the time
appointed, but I never knew 1hg
until Frances told me, but this is
not the worst part of the story; :
glass of water, into which a dose Of
3oa'assic acid had been dropped, was
lett where / usually took my morn.
ing drink of brandy, and I took It.
Here he compressed his lips, ane
became pale with some emotion which
/ did not understand J, then resumed
" I was very i'll, butwas saved by
well no matter, but I am here still
aud / was told that that poor chic
mp yonder had prepared the dose 70